In an email earlier this morning sent out by Valve to ESL, and then been communicated to certain organizations and players, Valve has supposedly restricted the involvement of coaches in the game, limiting their existence to warm up, half-time, and the strategic timeout.
According to the email sent in, Valve’s perception to coaching is divergent to the masses. The email which was sent to ESL says that CS:GO is a 5v5 game and an involvement of the 6th player diminishes the excitement and thrills for the playing five in-game. Valve’s unassociated thoughts and observation suggest the member of a team to be considered as an active player and not coach if he is taking care of the economy, strategies and calling plays.
If a person is performing these actions, we consider them a player.
Contrary to the majority of the community disassociating themselves from what Valve has planned, it surely affects a lot of top teams and players in both good and bad ways. From the perspective of organizations who structured their roster according to the rules set by the coach, things now will be difficult for them as well.
Interestingly, the statement from Valve also seems to be very independent and limited to majors in their own way as it also reads, “Obviously, third party events can use whatever rules they want but if you want to align your events with ours then we recommend using this coaching rule.”
The outrage of this particular is already foreseen. Not only will the recent roster changes get affected, but also the victim of this unwarranted policy, coaches will also be the one to have their career endangered overnight.
Mixed reactions from the professionals
The LOL’s
valve is a god damn joke sometimes…. pathetic.
— jdm (@jdmarzano) August 17, 2016
.@CSzonic right now. pic.twitter.com/lxzF5DnrsY
— Astralis Counter-Strike (@AstralisCS) August 17, 2016
It's irresponsible from Valve not to make this decision way earlier. Not surprised tho, they've shown little understanding for pros so far.
— Janko Paunovic (@YNk) August 17, 2016
another day, another bad decision by valve
— Robin Rönnquist (@flusha) August 17, 2016
Volvo plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz https://t.co/o6R5TCFX8B
— Aleksi Jalli (@alluCSGO) August 17, 2016
Jesus that coach ban/change is going to turn csgo upside down for a while…
— MACHINE /// (@MACHINEgg) August 17, 2016
Coaches are no longer allowed to IGL @ESLCS tournaments.. LOL! They are only allowed to talk during pauses etc.
— dennis (@denniscsgod) August 17, 2016
Suggestions
Really starting to wonder what it's going to take for players to finally realize that together they have a voice. Now the time to use it.
— Matthew Trivett 🐺 (@Sadokist) August 17, 2016
Don't agree with the removal of coaches in CSGO, it's one of the key things that has taken gameplay to a new level.
— Paul Chaloner (@PaulChaloner) August 17, 2016
I think allowing coaches to talk during freezetime would be a decent compromise though.
— adreN (@adreN_Hoag) August 18, 2016
Negative
This is a step backwards. Cmon Valve. Really? https://t.co/4hKBeIrIxk
— Bleh (@OfficialBleh) August 17, 2016
Players/casters/org staff talk to devs at the majors, but it feels like nothing we say is taken into consideration https://t.co/BVDXFO9lgC
— Jason O'Toole (@MosesGG) August 17, 2016
I don't really know what to think, what a terrible way to start the day.. what has valve just done to my job.. 💔
— Luis Peacemaker (@peacemaker) August 17, 2016
1/2 – Horrible start to the day. Players really should unite on this and demand that coaches stay as they are… Valve killing jobs
— Wilton Prado 'zews' (@zews) August 17, 2016
@csgo_dev Is this the time when all the teams Decline to play in Major, and any other tournament with such rules? Coach in CS is essential.
— TAZ (@g5taz) August 17, 2016
The team most fucked by the coaching ruling is Na`Vi.
— Thorin (@Thorin) August 17, 2016
This is why u dont talk to VALVE at majors anymore – its no point
— olofmeister (@olofmeister) August 17, 2016
Players position should be simple: player union demand coach to stay as it is. You rather adapt or change all teams. But we are weak. Dream.
— Gabriel Toledo (@FalleNCS) August 17, 2016
Just saw the new coaching rule changes by valve, why?!?!?!?!?!
— pyth (@pythofficial) August 17, 2016
This to me seems like rejecting evolution of the game. Should a core 5 stay traditional, if so, why?
— James Bardolph (@jamesbardolph) August 17, 2016
Of all the small fixes the pro scene has asked for over the years, Valve decides to destroy one thing they actually had right. incredible
— Jason O'Toole (@MosesGG) August 17, 2016
New coaching rule is pathetic. Valve was never good at pushing CS:GO forward, but why send it rolling back downhill any further?
— Tomi (@tomi) August 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/blucsgo/status/765949316728889344
Positive
Well..
Complete statement from Valve
“With unrestricted communication with their players, coaches can currently function as a sixth player, and not solely as a source of guidance or training. Activities such as keeping track of the economy, calling plays, and general situational awareness are important components of CS gameplay. If a person is performing these actions, we consider them a player.
Since the goal of our events is to identify the best five-player CS teams that exhibit the best combination of all CS skills, the current participation of coaches in the game is not compatible with that goal. To address this problem, future Valve sponsored events will enforce the following coaching rules:
During a match, the coach may only communicate with the players during warmup, half-time, or during one of four 30 second timeouts that the coach or player can call.
Obviously, third party events can use whatever rules they want but if you want to align your events with ours then we recommend using this coaching rule.
Ido Magal”
Bonus Content
Ironically, Valve has mentioned a statement on their official website regarding their course of working decorum. As they state, they work “boss-free”.
“We’ve been boss-free since 1996.
Imagine working with super smart, super talented colleagues in a free-wheeling, innovative environment—no bosses, no middle management, no bureaucracy. Just highly motivated peers coming together to make cool stuff. It’s amazing what creative people can come up with when there’s nobody there telling them what to do.”
